The Godwin School and Vocational Training Centre in Rokel District has become a lifeline for marginalized women and girls. Established in 2011, it provides education, vocational training, and pathways to independence in trades such as tailoring, Gara tie‑dyeing, catering, nutrition, and hairdressing. Over time, the Centre has grown into a full educational institution serving 300 students across preschool, primary, and middle school levels. Yet its infrastructure—particularly water and sanitation lagged behind, threatening attendance and long‑term success.

The Solution

Engineers Without Borders Sierra Leone, with co‑funding from Bentley Systems, launched a targeted intervention in 2025 to mark International Women’s Day. The $10,500 project expanded the Centre’s rainwater harvesting, storage, and filtration system to meet the needs of both the school and the surrounding Rokel community.

Key components included:

• Expanded storage — increasing rainwater harvesting capacity.

• Enhanced filtration — ensuring water remains safe and usable.

• Future‑proofing — designing the system to support continued growth.

• Training — equipping staff and community members for operations and maintenance.

• Awareness — delivering hygiene and sanitation education to strengthen long‑term impact.

• The Impact

  Completed in just eight weeks, the upgraded system now:

  • Provides reliable, safe water access for 300 female pupils, teachers, and staff each year.

  • Expands improved water and hygiene facilities to 1,300 people in the Rokel community.

  • Relieves pressure on the previous single tap stand, boosting usability and attendance.

  • Strengthens the Centre’s capacity to grow without infrastructure becoming a barrier.

  For women and girls rebuilding their lives after addiction, “staying clean” is about more than sobriety—it is about dignity, respect, and independence. With safe water and supportive training, the Godwin Centre offers a second chance, helping women avoid cycles of exploitation and poverty.

  Looking Ahead

  This intervention reinforces a proven model EWB Sierra Leone has delivered for over a decade: scalable, community‑based water systems paired with training and long‑term maintenance. Beyond Rokel, it demonstrates how infrastructure can empower women and girls to reclaim their futures.